Nebraska Republican Governor Pete Ricketts and his Democratic challenger, state Senator Bob Krist, agree property taxes are a top issue. But they have different approaches to the issue.

“Property tax is absolutely the number one issue that people have talked to me about as I’ve been running for governor five years ago, and up until today,” Gov. Pete Ricketts said in a debate in Grand Island last month.

“Would you support a plan that directed more state income and sales tax towards reducing the property taxes that Nebraskans pay?” Severe asked.

“Absolutely,” Krist answered.

In the last legislative session, Krist said he agreed with most parts of a bill to raise income, sales and cigarette taxes to funnel more money to schools.

Krist argues directing more state revenue to schools would help with property taxes.

“Not so long ago, we gave 20 percent of our income tax to fund education. This past budget cycle, it was less than 3. That burden, not funding education, causes a further burden on the taxpayers – the property taxpayers,” he said. “We need to find a way to balance that three-legged stool of taxes, and reduce the burden on property tax every way that we can.”

Ricketts says he’s against raising taxes to lower taxes. He says ideas he’s proposed, like providing an income tax credit for property taxes paid, and changing how agricultural land is valued, would help. And Ricketts says the key to property tax relief is spending control at the state and local level.

Which of those approaches to the property tax issue Nebraskans prefer will be part of the decision voters will make in this year’s election.